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A Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) can help you to improve your speech, reading and writing as much as possible.
We can also help you to learn other ways to communicate. These are known as compensation or coping strategies. They include anything from gestures to electronic devices - anything that can help you get across what you want to say.
Speech and language therapy isn't just about the time you spend with your therapist. Your communication will only improve with practice, so the work you put in outside of your therapy sessions is just as important.
Aphasia affects your ability to speak and understand what others say. It can also affect your ability to read and write. Aphasia is a common problem after stroke and around a third of stroke survivors have it. It will affect people in different ways.
Please see this leaflet about communication after stroke created by the Stroke Association.
Aphasia Therapy Online is a free website to practice listening, spelling, reading and naming. Available in 9 different languages with multiple options for increasing/decreasing difficulty. Visit the Aphasia Therapy Online website.
Some people experience word finding difficulties following a stroke.
Dysarthria is a difficulty controlling the muscles in your face, mouth and throat usually due to weakness, making it difficult to speak clearly. This can mean that your speech becomes slurred or slow or that your voice sounds quiet.
Apraxia of speech is when you have difficulty moving the muscles in your face, mouth or throat in the order you need to when you're speaking (co-ordination difficulty). This can make it difficult for other people to understand you.
SLT offer support with swallowing difficulties by providing dietary advice, referral for instrumental assessment of swallowing and if appropriate exercises may be provided.
Please see this leaflet on swallowing difficulties after stroke created by the Stroke Association.
We have produced this short video, which has been endorsed by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, designed for healthcare professionals and anyone involved with feeding patients with eating or drinking difficulties.
An SLT may recommend that you take a normal diet but avoid or take more care with certain high-risk foods. High risk foods are known to be more difficult to swallow and are more likely to cause coughing and choking. They should not be given to anyone on a modified diet.